Starting your creative expression habit
“Attention is the beginning of devotion”
-Mary Oliver
How are you feeling? Right now. At this moment.
Take your time, sense how your body is feeling. Tune in.
How is your head feeling? Peer into the middle of your head, the very center.
How is your heart? Do you feel it beating? Or do you feel other sensations?
How is your belly? Does it feel soft, tense, full, or content?
Meditation, like this one, offers groundedness with little effort. You drop into presence and get a sense of spaciousness that you can carry with you into your practice.
That space is magic.
You can use that space to nourish your entire life if you’re open to it.
What is different about a creative expression habit?
It focuses on the process, not the outcome. For around 15 minutes, you aren't practicing to produce the most, to get extra cash, or to impress someone else. Your outer actions align with your insides, to the call of your spirit, to your intuition and desires.
It’s heart-centered and values expression over technique.
It supports the whole you, even the messy parts.
This practice is for those who:
feel lost, like something is missing
are lonely or afraid
are bored and restless
want to open up but have forgotten how
want to feel alive again, but from something nourishing not depleting
need help regaining energy (that depletes too fast each day)
have unintentionally turned away from the beauty of life
feel like a stranger to yourself after seeking outside validation at every turn
are bumping up against existential angst
I’ve had my ups and downs and experienced every single point above.
Over the years I have learned how to build a creative habit that is
spiritually aligned - engages with the energy of transformation
nourishing - contributes to inner harmony and self-possession
growth-oriented - encourages exploration, self-awareness and getting out of your comfort zone
It’s flexible and honors who you are right now.
It creates a framework that benefits you as well as your relationships.
I want to help you build an energy-giving habit that nourishes your life.
What exactly is a creative expression habit?
It’s a method that brings together the benefits of :
Creative expression
Meditation
Self-care
Energy work
Play
It simultaneously encourages fun, spirituality, embodied action, and approaching your life with a sense of love, curiosity, and exploration.
It isn’t an art-specific activity; all endeavors that allow for expression are great! Some ideas: writing, dance, music, bookmaking, woodwork, garden design, photography, song, cooking, movement, design, and more. Plus, you don’t need to choose just one!
How to get started with your practice
There are many ways to begin, but this is the best order I’ve found so far:
Choose 1-3 activities that allow for expression
Get your supplies ready to go as if you were setting up a workspace for the laziest most tired version of yourself
Set up a sacred space in your home
Put it on your calendar like an appointment
Tips for starting your habit purposefully
Remember that there is no one “right” way. Here are some pointers that have kept me going even in hard times:
Make it part of your routine:
Make it such a regular occurrence that you don’t have to even think about it. For me, that means just doing it most days. When I set up routines, I do not have to bring my frontal cortex into the minutiae, and it’s a little trippy. It feels like small favors that you’re doing for your future self.
Keep it extremely achievable, aiming for 15 minutes is fantastic.
Keep it sacred
Ground your practice in the present. Start with a moment of stillness and quietness.
Eliminate distractions. Instead, try grounding yourself in the tactile and sensory stimulation of the natural world when possible.
Take this time for yourself, dedicate it to what you want to do. Don’t let other people’s wants and needs get in the way of this time. Self-expression is paramount. Set up a separate time for collaboration.
Embody your inner artist
Fill up your cup with inspiration. Little things count! Go for a hike in nature or try a new way of knot tying. It’s research and part of your process.
When in doubt, DON’T throw it out. Decide on a date when you’ll review your work, say every six months, and edit your portfolio then. That way, you’ll get a chance to see the progress you’ve made and sense the path you’re on.
Become part of a creative community. Follow people whose work you admire. They can help normalize all the feels you have about your practice.
Play
Keep it fun, light, and playful. Explore new avenues, don’t limit yourself to what you already know you are “good” at doing. Don’t specialize unless you want to.
Use supplies that make you happy. It can be as simple as lighting a candle while you write, using colors that make you smile, a silly pen, or a sketchbook with handmade paper.
Common questions about establishing a creative expression practice
Do I need to set up my practice for the same time every day?
It depends on your lifestyle. The time of day isn’t essential. Choose what works for you.
If that means doing it at 10 am one day and 6 pm the next, no problem.
Don’t beat yourself up if you’re not consistent, especially since you’re just starting. Be gentle and acknowledge that you can make your rules up as you go.
How do I choose what I want to do?
Perhaps take a walk down nostalgia lane. Think back to things you’ve enjoyed expressing yourself in the past. Make a list of your favorite activities. Or consider something you’ve seen other people do that you’ve dreamed of doing someday.
It can also be helpful to consider what type of activities you enjoy in general and expand from there. For example, do you find yourself drawn to nature? What are some creative activities you can do there? Some ideas might include writing poetry about your favorite places in nature, artmaking with materials found outside, or using foraged plants in your cooking creations.
You can also download my Explore worksheet here to help you through the process.
Should I wait to start until I’ve collected all the proper supplies?
Nope. Use what you already have, and feel free to create a beautiful, tantalizing collection of supplies in the meantime, but not during your practice time. Consumerism/capitalism will rear its head throughout your process simply because that’s our culture today. Use it as a signal that it’s time to go back to basics or even explore new avenues.
Limit your supplies, especially when you’re beginning. It might feel counterintuitive, but in reality, simplicity shows taste and initiative. Bonus, it can free your mind to explore within your self-imposed limitations. Being resourceful is one of the most valuable lessons this practice can teach.
How much time should I expect to spend?
Fifteen minutes is a sweet spot that is both long and short enough to feel meaningful for the average person. But you aren’t ordinary, so find what works for you. Feel free to start with a single moment and build up from there.
Creative energy isn't restricted by time or space. The most important thing is to shift into an expansive mindset, and you can do that in a second through stillness and visualizing spaciousness.
What are some ways I can make time in my schedule? I’m already swamped and can’t imagine fitting one more thing into my calendar.
Our culture tells us busy is best, and that often leaves us with no time to take care of ourselves. It’s very good at convincing us that everything and everyone else is much more important than you. The antidote to a crazy culture? Developing a healthy mindset.
You can start with just a 1-minute habit. In the meantime, focus on building supportive routines. Reduce your time spent on other non-supportive activities when you can. Some simple tweaks I’ve found to be helpful include :
Cooking time - only use 10-15 minute recipes or batch cook
Errand time - keep running around limited to 1 day per week
Screen time - wifi off at 10 pm
Are there ways you can reduce or eliminate the time you spend doing any of these activities? Untouchable: sacred sleep time, make sure you’re getting more than you think you need.
How will I stay motivated?
Check-in with yourself often, with a more significant review each quarter or so. Make sure your values are front and center in your creative time. And remember, waning motivation can be a symptom of growth. Checking-in can help you adjust your practice and prevent advancing to burnout. If you have already reached burnout, know it often means your habit is merely off track. Pause, reflect and rebuild.
Your practice is flexible, and it will stick with you even as you change. Pivot it daily if that is what your intuition is telling you. The main thing is to begin your journey.
As you tune in more deeply to your insides, you will likely notice positive changes that reach much farther than your creative habit. Exhausted? Check out my post on finding the energy to create.
How can I get my housemates on board?
Start without getting permission. Then share your enthusiasm and encourage their creative expression too. We are all born worthy of emotion; sometimes, your partner/roommates may also need confirmation that their feelings are valuable too.
How do I set up my space to create?
Start with little, then add slowly. Make it a place you want to return. Fill it with love, even if it's just a backpack filled with your notebook and pens—tuck little reminders of what’s important to you in every corner.
For example, I have realizations taped to my wall as reminders for moments my process becomes challenging. Experiment, find what works for you. Keep your most-used supplies ready for action by making them easily accessible.
Should I wait for inspiration to strike?
Absolutely not. One thing I’ve learned as an artist is that inspiration often shows up when you’re busy working and is never guaranteed. But if you’re approaching your habit playfully and creating from your heart and taking time to express how you’re feeling, inspiration becomes secondary.
The purpose of your creative expression habit is to get in touch with your true nature, instead of looking for something outside of you to bring meaning or approval. Sometimes when you’re stuck seeking inspiration, you’re just worried about what other people will think.
Can I create things for other people in my practice time?
Yes, use the skills you’re building to spread joy, but be sure that at least 15 minutes of that time is just about you.
Can I do this on a budget?
Of course! When you have to limit your supplies, your resourcefulness can shine.
Recycle and reuse materials; it’s good for your wallet, creativity, and the earth.
If you’re broke, keep things extra simple. Use a pencil and acid-free paper. Movement is free. Or improvise using your daily life, get creative in the kitchen, eat your creations!
What if I’m not good enough? How do I get over my fear and start?
If you’re doing it, you’re already good enough. Thinking you’re not good enough is perfectionism in disguise. Tap into your heart.
The cliche “The only way out of fear is through” is one I’ve found to be accurate, so I recommend facing your fears regularly with love, especially during your process. Permit yourself to begin imperfectly.
The last thing you need to remember about getting started
The process is EVERYTHING. You will feel like you’re flying blind at times, it’s okay, trust that the process will hold you up. Nothing can be seen with total clarity until it’s over.
Getting started can be so sweet. Give yourself grace around this first step. By staying anchored in the present, you can fully participate in every moment. Learn what shape it takes, what it feels like in your body — get close with something that is paradoxically uniquely yours and universal.
Allow the flow of your true nature by awakening your heart and allowing your expression to flourish.
Join me on this journey whose roadmap we all carry in our bones.
You’re made for this.
I'm extremely honored to be a part of your beginning.
I believe in you, and I'm so excited for the start of your creative growth journey!
Share your story of beginning with me.
Sending love,
P.S.
My Setting Up guide breaks down this process in easy-to-follow step-by-step increments.